Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew says he is concerned over the current form of the side.
Newcastle were beaten 2-0 away from home at Southampton over the weekend meaning the club have only managed one point from their four Premier League games this month. The club have also played two Europa League matches in November which have both ended in draws.
Pardew said after the loss at Southampton:
“Of course I’m worried.
We are Newcastle United, we have been resoundingly beaten and I have to try to lift the players – We’ve got 11 senior players out and it looks like Steven Taylor could be another one out for a while with a hamstring injury.
The difference between last season and this is playing in the Europa League.”
One of the main reasons for the recent blip in form could be to do with the fact that Newcastle have so many players out of action. The club does not have the biggest squad in England which means the strain is being felt in all areas of the club.
Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye, Dan Gosling, Gabriel Obertan, Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor and Shola Ameobi are among the more experienced players all missing from the side. They are all regular first team players who have been crucial to Newcastle this season.
However, Newcastle cannot use this as an excuse because the games are coming think and fast over the winter period. Newcastle currently have seven scheduled games for December with four away trips which means the strain already placed on the squad is only going to increase from this point forward.
Newcastle have a chance to secure a mid-week win away at Stoke city before they face Wigan at home this weekend in their first match of December. The club have slipped down to 14th place in the Premier League table, now just four points above the relegation places.
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